Zoetis Receives USDA Conditional Licence for Poultry Vaccine

US - Zoetis has received a USDA conditional licence for the first vaccine to control the Georgia 08 strain of Infectious Bronchitis virus in poultry

Zoetis Inc. has obtained a conditional license from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to market the first commercially available vaccine for helping reduce disease caused by the Georgia 08 variant of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in poultry*. The vaccine is now available in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee.

The USDA agreed to issue a conditional licence because the modified-live vaccine fills a special need, has been shown to be safe and has demonstrated a 'reasonable expectation of efficacy' against the target pathogen.

“The Georgia 08 variant has had a devastating impact on animal health, production, and profits on affected farms, with previously available vaccines providing little protection,” said Kalen Cookson, DVM, MAM, a technical services veterinarian for Zoetis.

“We set the ambitious goal in spring 2013 of having a commercial vaccine available for this contagious and costly strain in time for winter, when IBV is most prevalent. We were able to achieve this goal in only seven months, thanks to the strong support of industry and the USDA. We look forward to their continued support as we work towards a full licence for the vaccine.”

First identified in Georgia in December 2007, the Georgia 08 IBV variant has since been isolated on farms in Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. Over the past two winters, its incidence and severity have increased dramatically, resulting in significant losses due to condemnations at processing, reduced line efficiency and additional plant measures needed to process affected birds.

“Airsacculitis is a major cause of condemnation,” he explained. “Even when birds are salvageable, the extra time and steps required have a major impact on plant efficiency.”

In addition, he said, more severe outbreaks of the Georgia 08 strain can cause further losses due to mortalities and secondary infections from E. coli and other harmful bacteria.

The new conditionally licensed vaccine has received broad industry support, including a letter from veterinarians at four major poultry companies affected by the Georgia 08 variant.

Zoetis plans to submit additional efficacy studies of the vaccine in order to pursue a full USDA licence. For more information about the conditionally licensed vaccine and other biologicals for managing IBV, producers should contact their local Zoetis representative.

* This product licence is conditional. Efficacy and potency test studies are in progress.